Frers Cup - Inaugural edition set for Trapani

by Louay Habib on 26 May 2014 The inaugural Frers Cup is an invitational sailing regatta designed for the pure enjoyment of the owners, guests and crew of yachts created by three generations of the Frers family.

The first design was hand-drawn by Germán Frers Snr. in 1928 and since that time more than 1,200 yachts have been created. From dinghies to mega yachts, production boats to America's Cup machines, custom-designed offshore cruiser-racers to technologically advanced power yachts.

The Frers Cup will be based in the ancient city of Trapani on the west coast of Sicily with a three day racing programme in the hauntingly beautiful Tyrrhenian Sea, taking in the beautiful marine reserve of the Egadi Island Archipelago. Dockside in Trapani, an exclusive event village will cater for the crew and fabulous social occasions will ensure a fabulous environment after sailing. Parties will include: Welcome Reception, Boat Hop Party, Sunset at Mount Erice, Prize Giving Ceremony and a Favignana Beach After-Party.

94' Frers Sloop, Bristolian was one of the early entries for the Frers Cup. Designed by German Frers and launched in 1998, as Mari Cha II, the Frers Maxi smashed the Trans-Atlantic record. Completing the course from Ambrose Lighthouse, New Jersey, to Cape Lizard, England in just under nine days, Mari Cha II broke the previous record by over two and a half days. Bristolian is both luxury yacht and racing thoroughbred. Extensively refitted with a new carbon rig and teak deck, Bristolian races extensively in the Caribbean winter and cruises and races in the Mediterranean in the summer months.

'Mani Frers had the idea about the regatta some years ago and the owner of Bristolian was very keen on a regatta, racing against similar yachts and his incentive kicked started the event.' commented Bristolian's racing skipper, John Burnie. 'This will be a proper head to head race, using IRC as the rating rule. The Frers Cup will be great fun and a popular social event but Bristolian will be going flat out to win it.

A professional race management team, GWM Racing, are providing excellent courses and organising all of the race management. Frers have been a huge influence in performance yacht design for so many generations and although all of the boats at the regatta will be different, they are all of the same overall concept. Using IRC as a rating system, the winner will be decided by the team that sails their yacht well, rather than the conditions suiting a particular yacht on the day. It will be enormous fun to get all of the Frers owners together as a group, racing each other under common design parameters.'

Launched in 2000, the Frers Wally 100, Gibian will be in Trapani for the Frers Regatta. Custom designed to the owner's specification, Gibian has a sophisticated interior conceived around the deck saloon. Gibian is a fine example of the collaboration between Frers and Wally Yachts, which began in the mid 90’s, developing a new design concept of performance yachts with clean, uncluttered decks and comfortable bespoke accommodation.

'I decided to participate in the Frers Cup because of a longtime friendship with the Frers family from when I was living in Argentina.' commented Armando Grandi, owner of Wally 100, Gibian.

'I was personally delighted to be invited and accept the opportunity to enter the inaugural Frers Cup Regatta. I know Trapani very well, it’s a very interesting location from sailing point of view and the city is a wonderful place to visit.'
Mani Frers sums up the aim of the Frers Cup. 'The starting point for the Frers Cup was to identify a distinctive location to discover and learn about new places, bringing together history, substance, beauty and an elegant but casual atmosphere with suitable wind conditions. The main aim of the Frers Cup is to bring exceptional boats along with their owners and crews to an equally exceptional place.

Frers have a historic link with Italy, gained in various projects over the years, and Sicily met all of the features and requirements that define the event. Trapani was chosen for its surroundings and the ability to be able to carry out a successful event both on the water and land.

Frers owners have shown a strong interest in the event and those boats that cannot be in the Mediterranean this year are already thinking ahead to 2015. In the meantime, we focus on the success of this first edition. The Frers Cup has all the characteristics of becoming a unique event and a recurring appointment for years to come.'